Presbyterian assembly narrowly rejects Israel divestment

Jul 06, 2012
USA TODAY
By Douglas Stanglin,
Updated 42m ago

The General Assembly of the 2-million strong Presbyterian Church (USA) has narrowly rejected a motion to divest in three companies over the Israeli military's use of their products in the Palestinian territories, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The proposal, presented by the assembly's Committee on Middle East and Peacemaking Issues, was rejected late Thursday by a vote of 333-331, with two abstentions.

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The New York Times reports that the results were so close that a collective gasp went up from the convention floor when the tally was posted electronically.

Divestment supporters argue the targeted companies — Caterpillar Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Motorola — are profiting from Palestinian suffering, the Associated Press reports. The American Jewish Committee, a public policy group, has said the proposal demonizes Israel and threatens Christian-Jewish relations.

Other major American Protestant denominations, including the United Methodist Church and the Episcopal Church, have rejected past divestment proposals, the AP reports.